The Board Bulletin December 2023

The Board Brief will be published by the central office following each regular meeting of the OPA Board of Directors. The Brief is designed as a reasonable summary of meeting content to keep the OPA community informed and is not an official record of meetings. To view official meeting minutes, please visit BoardDocs and click on the specific meetings of interest. Each meeting's minutes are presented to the Board for approval at the following meeting. For questions or comments about this Brief, please contact communications@opaschools.org

Patricia Luckeroth (Director of Student Services) and Bryan Rechtien (Dean, Middle School) presented on 2024 summer school outcomes. Summer school enrollment saw a 102% increase in students from last summer (170 enrolled last summer and 345 this summer).

Successes included a rise in iReady scores in every grade level and a significant number of kids in math acceleration meeting expectations. Additionally, the kids had a great time and had fun - which helps reinforce the idea that learning can be fun!

View the presentation here.

Michael Lauro (Chief Business Officer) presented an update on facilities projects completed during the summer break. The facilities team was busy working and deep cleaning our sites all summer, getting them ready for the school year.

He also discussed some of the larger challenges with facilities including limited funding, facility ownership, and facility approvals. In addition to routine facilities work, highlights presented include:

• South Orange County - Conversion of the locker room to a classroom to accommodate additional students. Also replaced the asphalt.
• Middle School - A new PA system was installed as well as a new portable refurbished and ready for students and learning*.
• Saddleback Valley - The HVAC was replaced and a new portable was installed ready for students and learning*.

*OPA is working diligently to ensure Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) meets its requirement for portable and shade structure installations at the Middle School and Saddleback Valley sites, including obtaining Division of State Architect (DSA) approvals.

View the presentation here.

The Board voted to fill Board Officer positions. Positions take effect immediately.

Vice President: Dr. Amy Smith

Secretary: Mr. Michael Delune

Treasurer: Ms. Betsy Freiler

The Board selected members for committees:

Academic Excellence Committee: Dr. Amy Smith and Mr. Paul Kagoo

Finance and Audit Committee: Mr. Paul Kagoo and Ms. Betsy Freiler

Governance Committee: Mr. Michael Delune and Ms. Delite Travis

Strategy and Development Committee: Ms. Delite Travis and Ms. Betsy Freiler

This report requires Board approval by the California Education Code (EC) Section 8820(g)(4). It includes the number of full-time equivalent teachers, classified personnel, and teaching aides; the number of pupils served; and the number of school sites providing arts education programs with AMS funds.

The report reflects full compliance with funding.

At OPA, these funds support the whole child instruction model and supports programs related to music, computer coding innovations, and creative expression including graphic arts and design, visual arts, and media arts, from grades TK-5.

Approval for the contract with Irvine Ranch Outdoor Ed Center for 5th grade science camp.

Approval of the contract to provide services from the Boys and Girls Club. The contract has no significant changes to the services offered.

The location of meetings rotates between the school sites. Meetings can be attended in-person, viewed via Zoom, and live-streamed on our District YouTube channel.

• August 6, 2024, Special Meeting - Central Office - 6:00 p.m.
• September 19, 2024 - Regular Meeting - Saddleback Valley - 6:00 p.m.
• October 17, 2024 - Regular Meeting - South Orange County - 5:00 p.m.
• November 14, 2024 - Regular Meeting - Saddleback Valley - 6:00 p.m.